Just took delivery of a RAID pack - 2 Different drives?

Gimpymoo

Gimpymoo

Gimpymoo

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I have just took delivery of a RAID pack, specifically, the one listed here:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=BU-002-WD

Now with it being sold as a "Raid Pack" I would have expected the drives to the be the same?

They have sent 2 different drives.

1 x WD5000YS
1 x WD5000ABYS

They look physically different and one was manufactured in 2006, the other in 2008 the specifications seem similiar although platter sizes are different?

Will this cause issues running in Raid 1?

Am I expecting too much expecting a "RAID Pack" to contain identical drives or am I making a mountain of a mole hill?
 
A bundle certified for RAID should really consist of two identical drives, its not unreasonable to expect that in my opinion. That said, as long as the disks are the same size, there shouldn't really be any problem.
 
Personally I would want two identical drives both certified as RE or "Raid edition". The non RE ones can work fine but can also cause raid errors due to the different ways that RE drives deal with read errors. Google raid and TLER for more info. I would also want identical drives so that all the parameters like seek times and read/write buffers are the same.

I would suggest that you send in a request to get this sorted out.
 
axer said:
A bundle certified for RAID should really consist of two identical drives, its not unreasonable to expect that in my opinion. That said, as long as the disks are the same size, there shouldn't really be any problem.
Click to expand...

Key points being "shouldn't". A raid pack should be identical drives models, firmware revision and warranty. Not two same manufacturers different drives bundled together.
 
You could argue that for RAID1 it's better to use dissimilar drives that aren't as likely to die at the same time. Having said that, I wouldn't expect dissimilar drives, nor one 4+ years old.
The 1 year warranty seems low - does the "Warranty: 1 Year (Clean Pull)" mean these aren't actually new?
 
I assume it is because the manufacturer may consider the warranty expired.

I have raised a post on the support section of the forum, will see what happens.

Seems odd to sell a "RAID Pack" with 2 different drives.

Mmmm - I didnt know what "clean pull" meant... Seems to mean 2nd user drives?

My own fault for not understanding what I was buying :(

Apparently "clean pull" means 2nd user drives, possible used in data centres for backup only, not an O.S install. Who knows how much use they have had :(

Getting the 2 year old drive was probably a blessing.
 
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Gimpymoo said:
Mmmm - I didnt know what "clean pull" meant... Seems to mean 2nd user drives?
Click to expand...

Gibbo said:
It can mean any of the following:-

1. Drive was used in a new PC, but PC never sold, so PC Dismantled.
2. Drive was used in external caddies, but again never sold, so dismantled.
3. Drive could be the above and have been subjected to testing of possibly upto 150hrs (1 week).
4. They are SI (System Integrator) so they only have one year warranty and that warranty is supplied by the reseller.
5. Considerable saving due to this.
Click to expand...
 
Send them back the raid bundle consists of two identical drives ending WD5000YS you didnt get them you got different drives and one is 4 years old.


1 x Western Digital RE2 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (WD5000YS)
1 x Western Digital RE2 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (WD5000YS)
 
I do feel a little miffed.

No response to my thread in the customer service section as yet.

My main issue is having to RMA over Christmas :(
 
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Send the 2008 one back, I would keep the 2006 one...its been four years, the poor thing and no one has ever wanted it.

Its now you have to remember.

A hard drive is for life. Not just for christmas.
 
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Clean Pull for me means OEM. So its a new drive with OEM status so 1year.

I got this pack tuesday and they were both sealed new. Sadly one died before I even got to windows as the poor packaging OCuk used meant they got a bit of a rough ride. Currently waiting for a replacement.
 
My god they actually sent you a HD from 2006??

Get a full refund and start again, i wouldn't settle for any less.
 
ecksmen said:
Key points being "shouldn't". A raid pack should be identical drives models, firmware revision and warranty. Not two same manufacturers different drives bundled together.
Click to expand...
Ideally you want all those the same, but from different batches.
Pretty much all failures of hard drives are defined by the initial construction - this can vary between batches for whatever reason.
 
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